that's according to the u.n. envoy brahimi and that's on top of at least 60,000 people who have already been killed in this conflict, according to an exhaustive analysis released by the u.n. this week. meanwhile, russia, perhaps the potential savior in the crisis, continues to refuse to act. so, what is the solution? joining me now is fawaz gerges professor of middle eastern politics at the london school of politics. he was on the syrian border in december. fawaz, you've heard people say the assad regime days are numbered, it is the end game. but, of course, people have been saying this for a while. you have always felt the regime had more staying power and, more importantly, more will power to stay than people have assumed. you still think this regime can hang on? >> what you have, fareed, in syria is a military stalemate and political and diplomatic deadlock. neither side can deliver a blow. neither side believes in a political settlement. the conflict in syria has not reached a tipping point yet. and contrary